Education is regarded as essential for an individual’s growth and prosperity, as it enables them to address the needs of their occupation. However, critics contend that practical skills learnt through experience are more valuable. According to them, people with the required skillset are more likely to be productive and effective in their roles. Despite this, I firmly believe that educated people are most valuable to society.
To begin with, educational institutions give students a range of options to explore, and at the university level, they receive more focused and practical training in their chosen field. By the time they graduate, they often have a deeper understanding of the job and are better equipped to handle challenges. This makes them more efficient and reliable in the workplace. On the other hand, individuals who rely solely on experience may struggle in certain situations. For example, in a previous company I worked for, the finance team was trained on the job to use the SAP Finance module. While this saved money, it created problems when issues came up, as they didn’t have the background to solve or even understand the errors. Eventually, the company had to bring in qualified professionals to retrain the team.
That said, in some areas, experience matters more than formal education. Trades like construction, plumbing, and electrical work rely heavily on hands-on skills, which are often gained through practice rather than classroom learning. These jobs are especially in demand in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In conclusion, while experience is valuable, I believe that education provides a stronger foundation for contributing to society. It not only helps people perform better at work but also gives them the tools to keep learning and adapting over time.